Dirt by Steve Tomecek Jump Into Science

The Jump Into Science book Dirt takes on the topic of soil, one of the most important resources on Earth. A star-nosed mole is the book's character guide, and he shows off all the different kinds of dirt in his garden, helps us to understand how dirt formed and what's in it, and points out many of the incredible creatures who live in the dirt. Young readers will learn fascinating scientific information about the different soil layers, or horizons, and find out how the soil that plants grow in differs from the soil that building foundations sit in. They'll also learn fun stuff: Did you know a single earthworm can eat several tons of soil a year? Dirt takes on more significance than just something to be cleaned up when you realize that it's a critical part of the web of life. Without it, plants could not grow, and animals - and people - could not live. Soil is importnat, and it needs protecting. Dirt also discusses some of the issues surrounding soil conservation and protection and talks about protecting forests and grasslands as a way to help. A do-it-yourself experiment at the end of the book walks kids through a great activity - how to build your own soil ecosystem in a plastic soda bottle. Give it some time, and you'll see grass begin to sprout and critters crawling around in your miniterrarium. The bright cheerful art, and the delightful mole will charm readers as they learn all the secrets of the precious substance down underground - dirt.

Steve Tomecek, the Executive Director and Founder of Science Plus, Inc., is the author of numerous books, including three other Jump Into Science titles. He was the winner of the 1996 American Institute of Physics Excellence in Science Writing Award. He lives in Bellerose, NY. Liisa Chauncy Guida studied at the Pratt School of Art and Design in New York City. She gazes at the moon in the clear skies over her home in Avon, CO.
Dr. Ellen J. Prager lives in Arlington, Virgina and is a geologist who specializes in marine science research and education. Formerly with the Sea Education Association and the U.S. Geological Survey, she now writes on marine-related topics. She collects sand from all over the world. Illustrator Nancy Woodman lives in Poulsbo, Washington, and is the illustrator for two other books in the series: " Dirt" and" Volcano.

Unrated Critic Reviews for Dirt

Kirkus Reviews

For example, “Just one square foot of good forest soil can be home to as many as 300,000 different living things.” And “Around the world, soil scientists have discovered more than 100,000 different types of soil!” While the text is compelling throughout, the illustrations, with an elaborately cos...